27 March 2012: A coalition of civil society groups has called for Heads of State and Government to inject new political momentum into the negotiating process of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), expressing concern at a lack of progress during the March “informal informal” consultations on the Rio+20 outcome.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) on 27 March 2012, in New York, US, at the conclusion of the consultations, several civil society groups, including Oxfam, the Council of Canadians, Greenpeace International, the International Trade Union Confederation and Women in Europe for a Common Future, have lamented what they viewed as efforts to eliminate references to principles such as “polluter pays,” and “common but differentiated responsibilities,” as well as human rights, equity and gender equality principles.

Noting the urgency of taking action on sustainability because of the various challenges currently faced by the world, the civil society groups also underlined that the talks seemed to be heading towards a push for the private sector to fill in the gap left by the public sector. [UN Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of the Meetings]